When did your tamoxifen side effects start?

I have been taking Tamoxifen for 2 years now and the SEs I am having didn't start right away. I was originally on Arimidex but because I have osteoporosis my Oncologist switched me to Tamoxifen. Arimidex attacks the bones and I could ill afford with my condition for that to happen. Weight gain, lack of concentration, sleeplessness and forgetfulness sometimes but that could be attributed to age. There are women who don't experience any real SEs and others who have worse ones than I do. You are right it depends on the person as usual. I will say I don't think any real SEs would kick in after just a week. Whatever you experience though it is certainly better than the alternative. To me its like having an insurance policy against a recurrence. Diane

question: can you take tamoxifen if  uterus/ ovaries have been removed? I thought that is when the AIs come in to play.

My side effects come & go. I think they started about 2 weeks into my 5year plan. I think the dizziness was the most problematic. Followed by urinary incontinence. My hot flashes are so mild that I actually like them(I'm usually cold). It has also made me very intolerant of alcohol. But then again with just the dizziness, I often feel a little drunk. I've been on the drug for about 2 1/2 years. I'm kinda surprised I made this far. It was a rough & unpredictable road at first. Best of luck.

hwhranch will you eventually be switched to an AI? Or is tamoxifen it? I'm going to have a complete hysto/ooph and my MO said that I will need to switch. I haven't started the tamoxifen yet as I just finished chemo on 3/21.

Mild hot flashes and mild hair thinning, both of which started about 4-6 months in.    The hair thinning seems to be resolving (I'm a year in now) and the hot flashes have remained mild, thankfully.   I didn't have them all winter, but as soon as the weather warmed up a bit they came back.

I'm 46 and started taking Tamoxifen mid February. I had a mastectomy and did not have to take radiation or chemo treatments.  I actually feel pretty good with the hotflashes being the major symptom for me.  My oncologist said I could take vitamin E to see if that will help with the hotflashes, she also gave me a script for venlafaxine, which is an antidepressant.  A very low dose has been known to help 50% of women with hotflashes.  I will use this as a last resort.  I'm an advocate that excersice and clean eating play a huge role in your physical and metal well being.  I back to running 6 miles a day about 4 days a week and feel great. I hope that I continue to feel this good, time will tell.  

Good luck with your treatment

Once - hope by the time you read this nothing has changed and that your SEs have been minimal.  I've been on Tamox for a little under a year.  Pre-menopausal.  Minimal SEs within the first month or two (it's hard to remember) - mostly more brittle hair / nails.  Every once in a while, a hot flash, but those have remained rare and manageable (for now).  FWIW, I take my dose at night so if/when I've had one, they've been at night (not sure if there's any correlation, but I'm not switching to a morning dose to find out!).  I did start to get foot cramps about 6 months in - that's the only "new" SE that didn't surface right away.  Am taking magnesium supplements and drink tonic water and those has helped.  I think the cold weather this winter may have played a role; I find that if I can keep my feet warm, that helps also.